Will county pursue shelter plan alone?

Published: Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at 10:58 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at 10:58 p.m.

SARASOTA - After working with the city of Sarasota for nearly a year on creating a shelter for homeless adults, Sarasota County has been left to consider if it will continue the effort following the end of that partnership.

County officials, local nonprofit leaders and the national expert hired to help address the area’s homelessness issues are contemplating their next moves after the Sarasota City Commission decided Monday night to end the joint pursuit of a shelter.

The decision has also prompted some sharp criticism of the city.

Homelessness consultant Robert Marbut — hired by the city and the county to advise them on a strategy — on Tuesday asked if Sarasota officials ever intended to locate a shelter in the city as he’d recommended months ago.

“They’ve wasted a lot of people’s time, money and effort,” said Marbut, who was hired last August.

Still, he added, the city’s decision to opt out could allow the county to move forward unencumbered.

County commissioners, who have routinely supported Marbut’s recommendations, said they need to confer with the consultant and one another before determining whether to build a shelter without the city.

Their next meeting is set for Aug. 20.

For now, Marbut and the county’s homeless services director, Wayne Applebee, said they would keep looking for potential shelter sites in the county.

Marbut said they have found some good — not great — options near the city border. The sites he considered best for a shelter have been rejected by the city over the past few months, he said.

County commissioners and nonprofit agency leaders said they were disappointed by the city’s decision, but noted that other efforts to help the homeless are progressing.

The divide between the city and the county centered on Marbut’s recommendation that a “come as you are shelter” be built near downtown Sarasota, close to existing social services and the jail. Some Sarasota residents and city commissioners doubted it would get people off the streets, and said it would put an undue burden on the municipality.

But some county commissioners said the city already has the bulk of the chronic homeless population, and rejecting a shelter would do nothing to address the issue.

“They’ve chosen to stick their head in the sand. We’re going to have to try to fix it,” County Commissioner Christine Robinson said.

“I feel bad for the city. I feel bad for the merchants,” said Commissioner Joe Barbetta, adding that he does not want to spend any more money on what he said is predominantly a city issue.

Sarasota and the county have already invested tens of thousands of dollars in Marbut’s services, staff time and environmental studies for potential shelter sites.

Progress nonetheless

County officials pointed to other areas in which they’ve made strides on homelessness since Marbut’s hiring last year.

For instance, the nonprofit Gulf Coast Community Foundation, which is spearheading changes to homeless family services, has funding lined up for a case management and data sharing system and is “full speed ahead” on that front, said Jon Thaxton, the foundation’s director of community investment. Once the adult shelter situation is finalized, it will be able to use the same system easily, he said.

Sheriff Tom Knight, whose office would manage a shelter, said he is looking into a program to help homeless people with mental health and substance abuse issues who cycle through the jail.

Leslie Loveless, head of the Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness, said her organization is trying to bulk up affordable housing in the community.

But without a shelter, they said, people will continue to sleep outside and remain visible in downtown Sarasota, where they are a source of aggravation for merchants.

“Until we have a solution where our chronic homeless population and adults without children can be housed, we will continue to see them on streets,” Loveless said. “The city doesn’t seem to have the public will to move forward with the shelter, and I’m looking to the county.”

The city has been supportive of the Salvation Army’s plan to open a social service office and free up 24 beds for priority cases, like veterans in need of help.

But that won’t meet the greater need in the community, and Marbut’s recommended shelter, which would have about 250 beds, is necessary, said County Commissioner Carolyn Mason, who has worked at the Salvation Army.

“I think the city has missed a golden opportunity to make a real difference. And, you know, they forget that cities are part of the county. It’s not us versus them. It’s us. All of us,” Mason said.

History

In the spring of 2013, panhandling was at its peak in Sarasota County, and the homeless were particularly visible. People formed camps along streets near the Salvation Army.

Residents called for action, and by last summer the city and county jointly chose to hire Marbut. The community seemed on the path toward change.

But when it came time to locate a viable site for an adult shelter, a key element of Marbut’s recommendations, the government partnership began to fray.

The clash of opinions crystallized after the city and county commissions met together last month. In emails after the meeting, County Administrator Tom Harmer and City Manager Tom Barwin exchanged very different interpretations of how to proceed.

Harmer and county commissioners said they wanted to keep looking for shelter sites that followed the principles laid out in Marbut’s plan, including the notion that it be near existing services and the jail downtown.

Barwin replied that he thought they should not get hung up on one detail, like the recommendation that the shelter be within walking distance of services.

In a last-ditch effort to get on the same page, the County Commission sent a letter to the city this month asking it to reaffirm its commitment to the criteria and Marbut’s involvement in the site review process.

The city responded Monday night by giving up on the partnership.

Part of the concern was that a shelter would draw more homeless people.

At first, the idea is to draw in as many people as possible, Applebee said. But if out-of-towners are abusing the service, the response could be to require people to prove residency, a strategy used by shelters elsewhere.

The other day, when Mason was hunting for shells, a constituent approached her and asked about the possibility that a shelter would attract homeless to the area.

She replied by pointing to the water.

“You’re looking at the sunshine and you’re looking at this gorgeous beach. That’s what draws people here,” she said.

<p><em>SARASOTA</em> - After working with the city of Sarasota for nearly a year on creating a shelter for homeless adults, Sarasota County has been left to consider if it will continue the effort following the end of that partnership.</p><p>County officials, local nonprofit leaders and the national expert hired to help address the area's homelessness issues are contemplating their next moves after the Sarasota City Commission decided Monday night to end the joint pursuit of a shelter.</p><p>The decision has also prompted some sharp criticism of the city.</p><p>Homelessness consultant Robert Marbut — hired by the city and the county to advise them on a strategy — on Tuesday asked if Sarasota officials ever intended to locate a shelter in the city as he'd recommended months ago.</p><p>“They've wasted a lot of people's time, money and effort,” said Marbut, who was hired last August.</p><p>Still, he added, the city's decision to opt out could allow the county to move forward unencumbered.</p><p>County commissioners, who have routinely supported Marbut's recommendations, said they need to confer with the consultant and one another before determining whether to build a shelter without the city. </p><p>Their next meeting is set for Aug. 20.</p><p>For now, Marbut and the county's homeless services director, Wayne Applebee, said they would keep looking for potential shelter sites in the county.</p><p>Marbut said they have found some good — not great — options near the city border. The sites he considered best for a shelter have been rejected by the city over the past few months, he said.</p><p>County commissioners and nonprofit agency leaders said they were disappointed by the city's decision, but noted that other efforts to help the homeless are progressing. </p><p>The divide between the city and the county centered on Marbut's recommendation that a “come as you are shelter” be built near downtown Sarasota, close to existing social services and the jail. Some Sarasota residents and city commissioners doubted it would get people off the streets, and said it would put an undue burden on the municipality.</p><p>But some county commissioners said the city already has the bulk of the chronic homeless population, and rejecting a shelter would do nothing to address the issue. </p><p>“They've chosen to stick their head in the sand. We're going to have to try to fix it,” County Commissioner Christine Robinson said.</p><p>“I feel bad for the city. I feel bad for the merchants,” said Commissioner Joe Barbetta, adding that he does not want to spend any more money on what he said is predominantly a city issue.</p><p>Sarasota and the county have already invested tens of thousands of dollars in Marbut's services, staff time and environmental studies for potential shelter sites. </p><p><B>Progress nonetheless</b></p><p>County officials pointed to other areas in which they've made strides on homelessness since Marbut's hiring last year.</p><p>For instance, the nonprofit Gulf Coast Community Foundation, which is spearheading changes to homeless family services, has funding lined up for a case management and data sharing system and is “full speed ahead” on that front, said Jon Thaxton, the foundation's director of community investment. Once the adult shelter situation is finalized, it will be able to use the same system easily, he said.</p><p>Sheriff Tom Knight, whose office would manage a shelter, said he is looking into a program to help homeless people with mental health and substance abuse issues who cycle through the jail. </p><p>Leslie Loveless, head of the Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness, said her organization is trying to bulk up affordable housing in the community.</p><p>But without a shelter, they said, people will continue to sleep outside and remain visible in downtown Sarasota, where they are a source of aggravation for merchants. </p><p>“Until we have a solution where our chronic homeless population and adults without children can be housed, we will continue to see them on streets,” Loveless said. “The city doesn't seem to have the public will to move forward with the shelter, and I'm looking to the county.”</p><p>The city has been supportive of the Salvation Army's plan to open a social service office and free up 24 beds for priority cases, like veterans in need of help.</p><p>But that won't meet the greater need in the community, and Marbut's recommended shelter, which would have about 250 beds, is necessary, said County Commissioner Carolyn Mason, who has worked at the Salvation Army. </p><p>“I think the city has missed a golden opportunity to make a real difference. And, you know, they forget that cities are part of the county. It's not us versus them. It's us. All of us,” Mason said.</p><p><B>History</b></p><p>In the spring of 2013, panhandling was at its peak in Sarasota County, and the homeless were particularly visible. People formed camps along streets near the Salvation Army. </p><p>Residents called for action, and by last summer the city and county jointly chose to hire Marbut. The community seemed on the path toward change.</p><p>But when it came time to locate a viable site for an adult shelter, a key element of Marbut's recommendations, the government partnership began to fray.</p><p>The clash of opinions crystallized after the city and county commissions met together last month. In emails after the meeting, County Administrator Tom Harmer and City Manager Tom Barwin exchanged very different interpretations of how to proceed.</p><p>Harmer and county commissioners said they wanted to keep looking for shelter sites that followed the principles laid out in Marbut's plan, including the notion that it be near existing services and the jail downtown.</p><p>Barwin replied that he thought they should not get hung up on one detail, like the recommendation that the shelter be within walking distance of services. </p><p>In a last-ditch effort to get on the same page, the County Commission sent a letter to the city this month asking it to reaffirm its commitment to the criteria and Marbut's involvement in the site review process.</p><p>The city responded Monday night by giving up on the partnership. </p><p>Part of the concern was that a shelter would draw more homeless people.</p><p>At first, the idea is to draw in as many people as possible, Applebee said. But if out-of-towners are abusing the service, the response could be to require people to prove residency, a strategy used by shelters elsewhere.</p><p>The other day, when Mason was hunting for shells, a constituent approached her and asked about the possibility that a shelter would attract homeless to the area.</p><p>She replied by pointing to the water.</p><p>“You're looking at the sunshine and you're looking at this gorgeous beach. That's what draws people here,” she said. </p><p>“It's a beautiful place. We can't change that.”</p>